8ID troops keep NPAs in Samar on the run, more caches discovered

Press Release
By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
October 8, 2010

CAMP LUKBAN, Maulong Catbalogan Samar  –  The intensified combat operations conducted by the troops of the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army, have kept the Communist Terrorist Group in Samar on the run. As can be recalled earlier, the recent operations of the government forces in Samar Island resulted to the discovery and seizure of 11 enemy encampments that includes the National Organizational Department of the CPP/NPA Central Committee and the main headquarters of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

With the 8ID’s effort to pursue the fleeing CTs, a series of encounters ensued leading to the discovery of alternate and satellite camps and several caches of firearms, ammunitions, war materials, medical supplies, personal belongings and voluminous subversive documents containing vital information.

In Northern Samar, in a report from Colonel Oscar Lopez, the CO of 803Bde, 8ID, PA stationed at Camp Sumoroy, Catarman, Northern Samar, at about 10:00 in the morning of October 3, 2010, troops of 3rd Scout Ranger Company of the First Scout Ranger Regiment under Lieutenant Baylon while scouring the main camp, recovered one (1) Uzi submachine gun, 4 hand grenades, 1 airgun, 60 rounds of cal 5.56mm linked, 5 improvised explosive devices with manually operated switch, 6 wet cell batteries, 1 AC/DC tester, books on demolition course, electronics and sniping, other voluminous documents, vitamins, medicines and medical equipment.

Relatedly, at about 3:00 o’clock of same day, troops of 6th Special Forces Company under 1LT Guevarra were able to unearth a total of 10 sacks of assorted enemy personal belongings, training paraphernalia and subversive documents of vital importance at the hinterland barangays of Matuguinao, Samar.  The said items were buried by the fleeing communist terrorists in the area as they evade confrontation with the government troops.

In Eastern Samar, report reaching this Headquarters from Lt. Col Hermilo Demafiles, Commanding officer of 14th Infantry Battalion based in Brgy. Dao, Oras E. Samar, disclosed that at about 8:00 o’clock in the morning of October 4, 2010, the operating troops of Alpha Company, 14IB led by Sgt Eraya encountered a group of more or less 20 armed communist terrorists at vicinity Barangay Dorillo, Jipapad, municipality afterwhich the enemy withrew towards east direction after 30 minutes of firefight.

At about 3:20 in the afternoon of same day, another troops of Alpha Company, 14IB under Lieutenant Dequiatco while conducting pursuit operations encountered the fleeing communist terrorists at Barangay San Roque, Maslog, Eastern Samar. After three minutes of firefight, the enemy withdrew towards northwest direction. No reported casualties on both sides. Troops of 14IB recovered in this two encounters: two bags, one claymor mine, two detonating cords, four pcs. flash lights, trigger mechanism for M14 and M16 rifles, 35 pcs ballpen, two eye glasses, assorted paraphernalia, three sets acupuncture, four cellular phone (model 1650, 2 model 1202-2 and 11661-2), three load cards worth 100 pesos each, one cellphone headset, two cellphone  chargers, two ammunition for 12 gauge shot gun, assorted simpacks, eighteen kilos of rice and subversive documents.

About two (2) hours later of that same day in Eastern Samar, Bravo Company, 34IB led by Lieutenant Latonio discovered another abandoned NPA camp in barangay Aguingayan, San Jose De Buan, Samar. The said camp has more or less 15 bunkers made of anahaw makeshifts believed to be used as temporary shelter of the fleeing communist terrorists. At about 4:05 in the afternoon of same day, the same troops again discovered another abandoned enemy camp in the same barangay.